Yuri Foreman ring entrance

Just prior to undefeated WBA super welterweight champion and future rabbi Yuri Foreman’s ring walk to his first world title defense will be the sounding of the shofar. The shofar is a horn, traditionally that of a ram, used for Jewish religious purposes. The sounding of the shofar is incorporated in synagogue services on Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. “Welcome to Yankel Stadium,” said Hall of Fame promoter Bob Arum. “We are very fortunate to have Israel’s No. 1 entertainer Yoni Dror of Tel Aviv attending the fight to sound the shofar immediately prior to Yuri’s ring walk. Yoni was thrilled when we asked him and we were even happier he accepted. Yoni is beyond compare when it comes to sounding the shofar. It will be a very dramatic beginning to a very symbolic event.”

Foreman (28-0, 8 KOs), Israel’s first world champion boxer and the first orthodox Jew to win a world title in nearly 75 years, is in training for his first title defense, against three-time world champion Miguel Cotto (34-2, 27 KOs), the pride or Puerto Rico. Cotto vs. Foreman will headline “Stadium Slugfest” — the inaugural brawl at Yankee Stadium, Saturday, June 5. It will be televised live on HBO World Championship Boxing, beginning at 10:15 p.m. ET / 7:15 p.m. PT.

Promoted by Top Rank, in association with Miguel Cotto Promotions and Yankee Stadium, remaining tickets to Cotto vs. Foreman, priced at $400, $300, $200, $100, $75 and $50, can be purchased at the Yankee Stadium box office, all Ticketmaster outlets and Ticketmaster.com. To charge by phone, 800-982-2787. For more information on Cotto vs. Foreman, go to www.TopRank.com.